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Healthy Wednesday ClubNewsletter Issue 32October 30th, 2008I've stretched the idea of monthly just a bit. It's nearly 2 months since the last newsletter, but, by gosh, things have been pretty busy. There are so many thing I've seen that would be fascinating to share, but we'll just let the newsletter be what it is. The last weeks have seen a rather decisive comment from the economy about what happens if you live on smoke, dreams and the promises of unlimited abundance. I'm a believer in an expansive economy, but not on the shoulders of credit. My concern is that, when the planet gets as annoyed with our uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gases as the economy has with unsafe credit policy, we will have the capacity to make a beneficial impact. Trillions of dollars are just what an economy needs, it is made up of money, after all. The planet needs time. I'm not sure we will have so much of that if a crisis occurs. What we do as individuals is more important than ever. Governments are now distracted. We need to lead the way. Leadership has been a big issue in my agenda. The NeuroLeadership Summit in Sydney, several articles and essays on the nature of leadership from a social and interpersonal neurobiology perspective are just a few things to mention. Bottom line is that leadership is about making change for the better. Leadership is the common vision that entreats us to gather and forge ahead toward something worthwhile. Leadership can be simple and straightforward. It is the motivator of action. That is where and how we can all contribute, each in our own way. That's a great start. | |
Plastic Bags - an Inconvenient Convenience.
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Maybe each person can just pick up a few bags that have 'got away', recycle and, of course, use cloth bags whenever you can. Governments need the people to show them the way!
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A simple Supermarket Bought Breakfast
Ingredients: raw almonds pepitas sunflower seeds walnuts Vogels Soy Bran Jalna Fat Free Natural Yoghurt 1 banana |
Method: Mix the nuts into a large storage container. You may need to break up the walnuts if they are too big. The mix depends on your taste. We have twice as many almonds (by weight). Be sure that your teeth are up to the 'crunching'. Put half a handful of bran into a bowl and a handful of the nut mix. Cut up the banana and add a few dollops of yoghurt (it will take a few tries to get the mix just as you like it). Mix together with your spoon and you have an amazing, healthy, protein rich start to the day. Remember that you are in charge of the taste. Use something different than a banana, use different nuts. Do what tastes great, just make sure everything is raw with no added sugars or fats. |
HEALTHY WEDNESDAY ACTIVITIESMind: Invent a 'mantra' for this exercise that speaks about the benefits you are getting. Something like - 'Stretching upwards makes me feel tall and strong again. Out with the curved back and the bent neck... etc. Just think whatever is coming to mind as you stretch. Soul: Find the perfect place to take a deep breath while saying your 'mantra' and stretching your body. It won't be every breath, probably about every 4th or so. It doesn't have to a particular rhythm, it can just be when you feel like it. Let your body be the expert and the messenger for health and happiness. |
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Laughter is a funny thing. It erupts from within us for a variety of reasons that we don't think about at the time.
The thing is, if we did think about it, we probably wouldn't laugh. Laughter comes when we are surprised, when
things don't turn out the way we expect. A really interesting thing about laughter is that it has a degree of reassurance.
Very often we laugh when something that might have been serious turns out to be ok. There is also the 'nervous laugh' which
is an effort to try and make an upsetting moment seem ok. V.S. Ramachandran the neuroscientist believes that
laughter may well be a signal to others that all is well, that the mood is easy going and friendly or
a way to calm a situation down. Laughter is one of the actions that released oxytocin and activates the parasympathetic nervous system. It will have an effect of everybody. Laughter can be contagious. It is thought that laughter is hard wired in our brains as a way of returning to our preferred state of being calm, relaxed and in relationship with others. If we really are going to save this planet from the behaviour of selfishness, then wholesale, wide-scale laughter may be a very good remedy and catalyst. Let's spend a bit of time laughing at some very funny stuff. Poet and storyteller, Rives, shares with us a magnificent piece of research about the mysteries of 4am. A cryptic time that is key to a mystery that will amaze you and leave you with a sense of concern that only statistics and detail can resolve.
Comedy is sometimes about surprise or maybe reassurance, but also it's about getting a fresh perspective. Rock singers wow us with their ideosyncratic performance styles. They are so unique, so innovative and irreplaceable - except when just one guy, Rick Miller, imitates 25 of them to the great Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody.
It is always good to end with funny animals. Our pets try so hard to be one of us and it is perhaps a little strange how we try to see human beings in animals (anthropomorphism). The thing is that maybe the animals are a nicer than us. At least our pets might be better inspiration than playthings.
Share your thoughts and suggestions? richhill@iinet.net.au
Looking forward to sharing more thoughts, suggestions, news and making a very Healthy Wednesday connection with you! Take Care, Richard, Susie and The Healthy Wednesday Team |